Fire alarm actuating apparatus



'Sept. 10, 1935. ox 2,014,042

FIRE ALARM ACTUATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1932 L Ve wf r;

Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 19, 1932, Serial No. 629,540 In New Zealand November 8, 1931 6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus that has been devised with the object of providing for the operation of electrical fire alarm and indicator means of any of the known classes in which a signal or series of signals is transmitted through a system comprising an annunciator device. This apparatus is designed to be set in operation by the flow of fluid through the apparatus, to actuate a fluid impulse wheel, which in its actuation operates switch mechanism controlling the alarm and indicator system, so that such system is set in action.

More particularly the apparatus has been designed for use in conjunction with any of the known systems of automatic sprinkler installations in which a water pipe reticulation is installed in a building and at points therein is fitted with sprinkler devices which come automatically into operation on a rise in temperature above a predetermined degree, occurring in their vicinity. In such operation a. flow of water takes place in the pipe system towards the sprinkler thus set in operation and this flow is used to operate the alarm apparatus forming the subject of this invention.

Hitherto with these sprinkler systems it has been customary to combine an electric alarm sys tem that is concerned with the whole of the installation, to give the alarm upon any one of the sprinklers being set in action. It therefore gives an indication that a fire is occurring within the range of the installation, but no guide is given of the exact location of the sprinkler and of. the fire concerned. For instance in a building of several fioors installed with the sprinkler system, it is impossible to tell from the alarm apparatus, on which fioor the fire is situated so that valuable time is sometimes taken up in locating the position of the trouble.

0 The present invention provides an alarm actuating appliance that is adapted to be installed in combination with each sprinkler device, or with any group of sprinklers, and by association with any of the well known forms of electric alarm 4 and annunciator installations to give the alarm and also an indication of the exact location in the system of the sprinkler, or sprinklers, in operation.

The alarm actuating apparatus devised may be 50 constructed to impart a single electric impulse on being set in operation to open or to close a circuit working in known ways with electric alarm means, or may be made to impart a number of impulses, which may be varied in the several apparatus of 55 an installation to provide for selector electri alarm devices being actuated to distinguish the location of one from the others, also in a manner already well known in electric fire alarm installations and transmissions.

The invention is concerned with the mechanical 5 device to be employed in conjunction with the sprinker installation to cause an electric alarm circuit of any of the. known and approved types to be actuated upon there occurring a flow of the water through the section of pipe installation in 10 which the device is incorporated. In describing the invention therefore there is no need that its connection in the electric alarm system should be described, as the combination may be readily effected by any skilled workman to suit the special 1 circumstances of each case.

The apparatus devised is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure l is a sketch plan illustrating the arrangement of the apparatus in conjunction with 20 the water pipe of the sprinkler system.

Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is an elevation thereof, the casing being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan on the line 4-4 of 25 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end elevation with the upper portion of the casing shown in section.

Figure 6 is a plan, and

Figure '7 an outer end elevation, on an enlarged 30 scale illustrating a form of electric circuit opening or closing device for the apparatus, suitable for a single actuation.

Figure 8 is a plan, and

Figure 9 a side elevation of an alternative form 35 of electric circuit making and breaking device suitable for giving a number of repeated actuations or impulses.

In carrying out the invention a cylindrical casing I 0 is provided such casing having a closed bottom and an open top. Within the bottom of the casing there is mounted a fluid impulse wheel H of any approved design, as for instance the design shown in Figure 4 in which a number of vanes l2 radiate from a central boss l3. This wheel is fixed on a spindle l4 journalled in the bottom of the casing and passing upward through a bearing plate I5 fitted into the cylinder above the wheel.

The casing I0 is also formed with two ducts i6 leading out from its wall in the line of the wheel, from respectively opposite sides and disposed in tangential lines with the wheels periphery, as shown also in Figure 4. Each of these ducts 16 is made at its outer end as a union ll to permit of the apparatus being connected into a pipe l8 which in installing it for use is preferably arranged to form a by-pass or conjoint flow passage with the water pipe of the sprinkler system concerned.

A suitable arrangement for this purpose is shown in Figure l, the two ends of the pipe i8 being led into the bore of the water pipe |9 with their mouths arranged to open in respectively opposite directions, so that upon any flow of water in either direction along the pipe there will be a flow in the corresponding direction through the pipe l8 and through the casing Iii, to rotate the wheel II, also in a corresponding direction.

Situated in the casing In, above the bearing plate I5 is any approved train of gear wheels T which are connected with the top of the spindle and are mounted in suitable bearings upon this plate and beneath a cover plate 26 for the top of the casing. This train of gear wheels will vary in its ratio and nature according to the switch operating mechanism to be actuated by the apparatus. Its nature and manner of mounting however, follow well known methods concerned with fluid meter construction. Its purpose is in this invention to convey the rotation of the spindle M to a spindle 2| that passes through the cover plate 20 to the outside and this spindle 2| is used to actuate the switch means of the electric alarm circuit employed.

The said cover plate 20 is secured upon the casing I0 in such a manner as to ensure of a water tight closure of the casing, as by being held by the clamping ring 22 screwed upon the casing top. The spindle 2| may for a similar reason be mounted in a gland bearing in the cover plate.

A hood 30 is provided to fit over the top of the casing l0 and to extend beyond it on one side, such hood being provided to contain the switch mechanism to be operated through the action of the apparatus.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 2 to 7, the spindle 2| has a cam lever 23 loosely mounted upon it, outside the cover plate, and this is held frictionally by means of the spring 24 surrounding the spindle compressed between the lever and a collar 25 fixed on the spindle. This will provide for the cam lever turning with the spindle unless held, and provision is made for restricting its movement in this manner to a small arc of movement by disposing it between two stop pins 26 arranged to project upwardly upon the cover plate 20. When therefore the spindle 2| is set in action to rotate, through its gearing with the wheel spindle l4, it will move the cam lever through any distance permissible by its location between the stop pins 26 and then run, freely in the lever. The cam lever is thus capable of being moved from a position midway between the stop pins (which will be its normal set" position) in either direction according to the direction of flow through the casing, until it engages the stop pin on that side where it will be held from movement while the spindle continues its rotation.

The cam lever 23 is made, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, with two raised cam surfaces 27 upon its upper surface near its outer edge and arranged on respectively opposite sides of a central radial line. This then combines with a rocking arm 28 that is disposed to extend in the same line as the cam lever and is pivotally hung in suitable bearings 29 fixed beneath the hood 32. The inner end of this arm rests on the top of the cam lever while its outer end is connected with a mercury tumbler switch 3| of well known type in such a manner that the tipping of the arm will open such switch while the maintenance of the arm in a level position will keep the switch closed.

When the arm end is in between the cam surfaces 2? the arm is in the level position and thus as either cam passes beneath it, to tip it, the switch will be opened momentarily and then allowed to drop again to normal closing position, before the cam lever is held by engagement with the stop pin 28 on that side. In this manner provision is made for a single actuation of the switch mechanism on a flow of water taking place through the apparatus in either direction, and then for the switch mechanism to return to normal.

For re-setting the cam lever to its central position it is provided with a key 32 attached to its boss 33, which boss is elongated to receive the end of the spindle 2| and passes out through the hood to receive the key. This will enable the cam lever to be moved on the spindle 2| to any extent desired. vided with a collar and set screw, cotter pin or other means cooperating with the under side of the hood 3!] or other fixed portion of the structure to prevent the spring pushing the lever 23 from the position shown in Fig. 3. pointer 34 fixed to extend radially therefrom and this will register with a marking 34 on the hood surface when the cam lever is in the central normal position.

If desired, the switch device may be a single throw switch instead of the double throw shown in the drawing, the cam action. being suitably formed to act in such circumstances.

Instead of the cam lever 23 being used, provision may be made for a number of actuations of the switch mechanism upon the rotation of the spindle 2| and for these being in set sequences and repeated or otherwise controlled to obtain any desired selector signal operation common in electric fire alarm practice. tained by fixing a disc 35 upon the upper end of the spindle 2| so that it rotates therewith. This disc is provided with a number of spaced studs 36 upon its upper surface and in a ring near its outer edge, the spacings being of any 7 desired distances. The inner end of the rocking arm 28 overlaps the disc edge and rests thereon so that the studs 36 in the rotation of the disc will pass beneath it and thus give it the tipping action described as each stud thus passes.

It will readily be seen that the rotation of the spindle 2| may be used to control and operate switch mechanisms of different natures such mechanisms being such as to combine with any of the well known systems prevailing in fire alarm installations.

The apparatus may also be adapted to work in conjunction with a vertically disposed water pipe or to work with the water wheel on a horizontal axis as well as on a vertical axis as shown in the drawing.

In installing the apparatus it may be placed within a metal sealed casing 38 and the pipe connections l8 therewith fitted with control cocks 39 (Figure 1) to allow of it being thrown out of action or put into action whenever desired.

I claim:-

1. In fire sprinkler and alarm systems, having a water supply pipe leading to each sprinkler unit,

The boss 33 is, of course, pro- The key has a 1 This may be ob Y? an electric alarm installation, and a by-pass pipe arranged in open connection with the supply pipe so that its ends enter and are disposed in the line of the flow through such supply pipe, alarm actuating means comprising a casing of cylindrical form disposed within the by-pass pipe so that the flow through such by-pass shall pass through the casing, a water wheel mounted in the casing upon a spindle journalled therein, a second spindle extending to outside the casing and geared with the water wheel spindle, switch mechanism mounted upon the outside of the casing and centrolling the said alarm installation, and means whereby the movements of the said second spindle will operate the switch mechanism.

2, In fire sprinkler and alarm systems according to claim 1, switch mechanism upon the outside of the said casing embodying a make-andbreak arm mounted on the said spindle by friction or slip coupling means.

3. In fire sprinkler and alarm systems, having a water supply pipe leading to each sprinkler unit, an electric alarm installation, and a bypass pipe arranged in open connection with the supply pipe so that its ends enter and are disposed in the line of the flow through such supply pipe, alarm actuating means comprising a casing of cylindrical form disposed within the by-pass pipe so that the flow through such by-pass shall pass through the casing, a water wheel mounted in the casing upon a spindle journalled therein, a second spindle extending to outside the casing and geared with the water wheel spindle, an arm frictionally mounted on said second spindle, a rockably mounted mercury switch positioned to be rocked by said arm, and means for limiting the movement of said arm by the second spindle.

4. In fire sprinkler and alarm systems, having a water supply pipe leading to each sprinkler unit, an electric alarm installation, and a by-pass pipe arranged in open connection with the supply pipe so that its ends enter and are disposed in the line of the flow through such supply pipe, alarm actuating means comprising a casing of cylindrical form disposed within the by-pass pipe so that the flow through such by-pass shall pass through the casing, a water Wheel mounted in the casing upon a spindle journalled therein, a second spindle extending to outside the casing and geared with the water wheel spindle, an arm frictionally mounted on said second spindle, a rockably mounted mercury switch, cam means on said arm for rocking said switch as the arm is rotated by said second spindle, and means for limiting the movement of said arm.

5. An alarm system for indicating movement of water through a conduit and the direction of flow, comprising a by-pass pipe having one of its ends passing through the wall of said conduit and terminating in a section parallel to the line of flow through the conduit and provided with an opening facing in one direction of flow through the conduit, the other end of said by-pass being similarly constructed and positioned in said conduit but having its open end facing in the opposite direction, a casing disposed in said by-pass, an impulse wheel mounted therein on a spindle, said wheel being positioned to be rotated by the flow of water through said loy-pass in both directions, an arm adapted to be shifted from a neutral position upon rotation of said wheel in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of said wheel, means operable upon shifting of said arm in one direction to actuate one switch, and means operable upon the shifting of the arm in the other direction to actuate another switch.

6. An alarm system for indicating movement of water through a conduit and the direction of flow, comprising a Icy-pass pipe having one of its ends passing through the wall of said conduit and terminating in a section parallel to the line of flow through the conduit and provided with an openthe wheel, an arm mounted on the second spindle, J

a friction clutch connecting said arm to said second spindle, means for limiting the rotation of said arm to a sector of a circle, a rockably mounted double-throw mercury switch, cam

means on said arm for shifting said switch from 4 a neutral to one contacting position upon the rotation of said wheel in one direction, and cam means on said arm for shifting said switch from a neutral to its other contacting position upon rotation of the wheel in the opposite direction.

ROBERT FOX. 

